Wet/hot things on wood surfaces - AIBU?

[Chocolatefreak]

I can't believe how many people don't seem to realise that putting very hot or wet things, like wet dishcloths, mugs of tea, cold drinks etc on wooden tables or furniture stains them forever! My husband does it, other family members do it, the cleaner does it! Our dining table has rings from drinks on it, so does our coffee table, and now so does a dressing table in the bedroom. I have explained to them repeatedly you need a coaster under drinks. Obviously children aren't aware of this but surely adults should be?

IANBU to expect adults to proactively protect nice wooden surfaces from hot wet things
AIBU yes, it's trivial and life is too short, I should just tolerate it

You shouldn't have to keep reminding people. Are there coasters readily available on your coffee table?

They should know. You can get ring remover from lakeland/b and q etc for the damage already done.

YANBU but you do know that you can put various finishes on wood to protect them? Some finishes are much better at repelling moisture than others. You may look into refinishing at least your dining table and coffee table that they can repel mugs of tea marking

YANBU. It infuriates me, too!

White vinegar is worth a careful try (depending on finish) to remove rings.

YANBU but are coasters easily available?

I like to keep wood looking nice so this kind of thing drives me crazy.

You can actually use iron water marks off wood (medium heat ironing through a tea towel) but it’s a big faff.

YANBU, but are there coasters readily available for people to use?

You need to Osmo your surfaces so that they are more user friendly.

Yanbu about unfinished / unprotected wood.

@Yika

I like to keep wood looking nice so this kind of thing drives me crazy.

You can actually use iron water marks off wood (medium heat ironing through a tea towel) but it’s a big faff.

Using a hair dryer on it also works well

Good to know about the hairdryer!

I've sanded back two tables covered with ring marks, and then used Danish oil. One is our main dining table. No problem then with hot pans, wet cups/glasses.

You just need to appropriately finish your surfaces

People don’t buy real wood anymore so don’t realise. I work in a furniture shop so am ultra aware of this now. There are SO many things people don’t know about basic care of things and even I don’t know loads of it.

Marble is porous. Who knew that?!

As someone who grew up in a house where the dining table was treated with a holy reverence that made every meal time a stressful nightmare, I wonder why anyone would choose to have a coffee table that cannot be used for its main purpose without causing both owner and user stress? Can you not treat /permanently protect it to make life easier for everyone?

My in-laws do this, I have coasters on the coffee table and they’ll put a hot cup right next to them. Once my MIL even moved the coaster out of the way to put her cup down . Our tables are treated but even so if coasters are there why wouldn’t you use one?

@DysmalRadius ours were always like that too! I agree it seems ridiculous but the alternatives to wood seem a bit naff. Our kitchen worktop/usual place we eat is varnished but that is a very functional surface, not like living room furniture (where we have coasters etc). I don't think you can treat French polish type surfaces with anything other than real polish/oils - can you varnish over wax? @ Taoneusa I've never come across Osmo in the UK/Europe. Is it varnish? BTW I know I sound precious about this - our wooden furniture is not expensive - mostly second hand in fact - but it just seems like people don't know how to treat it!

I hate things being mistreated. We had glass tops made to fit our side tables so I don't have to worry about coasters (they never stay on the tables as young dc like to put them on the floor or attempt to eat them!)